Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3471Rape, oral rape, communication with a child for sexual exploitation, possession of child abuse material · Co. Cork

Appeal court raises sentence for Snapchat rape of two girls in Cork

David O'Sullivan, a 22-year-old man, was sentenced in November 2025 at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of two girls, aged 14 and 10, whom he met and groomed on Snapchat in the Cork and Galway areas between 2022 and 2024. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, oral rape, communication with a child for sexual exploitation, and production of child abuse material after gardaí found 1,629 files of child sexual abuse material on his phone following his arrest in early 2025. The judge imposed an 11-and-a-half-year term, reduced to nine years for mitigating factors, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions including no contact with either victim for 50 years. In March 2026, the Court of Appeal upheld the State's undue leniency appeal and resentenced him to 13 and a half years, with a 15-year post-release supervision order.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced12 Nov
    5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
David O'Sullivan, 22, was sentenced for the rape of two girls, aged 14 and 10, whom he met and groomed on Snapchat.
Where
The offences were committed in the Cork and Galway areas; the defendant had previous addresses in Midleton, Co Cork, and Woodquay, Galway.
When
He met the first victim in June 2022 and raped her in February 2023; he contacted the second victim in August 2024 and raped her between August and November 2024.
Cause
O'Sullivan groomed both children for months before meeting and raping them, using multiple Snapchat identities and evading a platform block via his phone browser.
Investigation
After his arrest in early 2025 (January per the facts, March per the articles), gardaí found 1,629 files of downloaded child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone, including 915 videos and images of sexual activity involving children and 714 images of sexually explicit exposure.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape of the first victim, four counts of rape and one of oral rape of the second victim, communication with a child for sexual exploitation, and production of child abuse material.
In court
The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court; the Court of Appeal heard the State's undue leniency appeal in March 2026.
Sentence
  • In November 2025, Justice Melanie Greally imposed 11 and a half years, reduced to nine years for mitigating factors, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions including no contact with either victim for 50 years.
  • In March 2026, the Court of Appeal resentenced O'Sullivan to 13 and a half years, with a 15-year post-release supervision order.
Other details
Counsel said O'Sullivan was abandoned as a child to an orphanage in Russia and was adopted by a couple.
55 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatO'Sullivan, 22, was jailed for nine years for the rape of two girls he met on Snapchat. (rte.ie)
  • whatO'Sullivan raped the first victim in a stairwell in February 2023 after giving her vodka. (rte.ie)
  • whatA 22-year-old man was jailed for nine years for the rape of two girls he met on Snapchat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe girls were aged 14 and 10 when they were raped. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe two girls were aged 14 and 10 when they were raped. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe files included 915 videos and images of sexual activity involving children and 714 images of sexually explicit exposure. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn August 2024, O'Sullivan contacted a 10-year-old girl on Snapchat, pretending he was 13. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatO'Sullivan used multiple Snapchat identities and was blocked from the platform, evading the block by using the internet browser on his phone. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatO'Sullivan told the second victim he would kill her father if she told anyone, and that somebody had raped his sister and he had killed and buried the person. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe offences were committed in Cork and Galway areas, and the court heard the accused had previous addresses in Midleton and Galway. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • whereIn August 2024 O'Sullivan was living in Co Galway when he contacted the second, 10-year-old girl on Snapchat. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe defendant had previous addresses in Midleton, Co Cork, and Woodquay, Galway. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereO'Sullivan was previously of Ballick Road, Midleton, Co Cork, and St Vincents Avenue, Woodquay, Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe girls were aged 14 and ten when they were raped. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenO'Sullivan met the first victim in June 2022, when he was 19 and she was 13. (rte.ie)
  • whenIn August 2024 the defendant was living in Co Galway and contacted a 10-year-old girl on Snapchat. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenGardaí arrested O'Sullivan in January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeO'Sullivan groomed the children for months before meeting and raping them. (rte.ie)
  • investigationAfter his arrest, gardaí found 1,629 files of downloaded child sexual abuse material on a mobile phone belonging to him. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found 1,629 files of downloaded child sexual abuse material on a mobile phone belonging to O'Sullivan. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí found 1,629 files of downloaded child sexual abuse material on a phone belonging to the defendant after his arrest. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape of the first victim in February 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeO'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape of the first victim in February 2023. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeO'Sullivan pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and one of oral rape of the second child between August and November 2024. (rte.ie)
  • chargeO'Sullivan pleaded guilty to producing child abuse material by asking the second victim to send a video of herself. (rte.ie)
  • chargeOn September 10 O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape and oral rape of the first victim in February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to communication with a child for sexual exploitation between June 2022 and February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and one of oral rape of the second child between August and November 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to communicating with the second child between August 2024 and March 2025 for sexual exploitation and to production of child abuse material. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGardaí arrested him in January 2025, and the case was sent forward for trial. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defendant pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to rape and oral rape of the first victim. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defendant also pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and one of oral rape of the second child. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed an 11-and-a-half-year sentence for the rapes and for possession of child abuse material. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe final two and a half years were suspended on conditions including keeping the peace, engaging with sexual offence treatment and not contacting either victim for 50 years. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe overall sentence was reduced to nine years because of mitigating factors, including guilty pleas and his young age at the time. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHeadline sentences of ten and 15 years were set for the rapes of the two victims, to run concurrently. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe overall sentence was reduced to nine years because of mitigating factors, including the guilty pleas and his young age. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceTwo and a half years were imposed for possession of child abuse material, to run consecutively. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe final two and a half years were suspended on conditions including keeping the peace, sexual offence treatment and no contact with the victims for 50 years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspended portion was set at three years, with conditions including no contact with the victims or their families for 50 years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set headline sentences of 10 years and 15 years for the rape of the two victims, to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed an overall sentence of 11½ years, suspending the final 2½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to nine years because of mitigating factors including the guilty pleas and his young age. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe suspended part of the sentence is conditional on keeping the peace, engaging with sexual offence treatment and having no contact with either victim for 50 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDavid O'Sullivan was jailed for nine years for grooming, sexually abusing and raping two young girls he met on Snapchat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJustice Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of 11 and a half years for the rapes and for possession of child abuse material. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe last two and a half years of the sentence were suspended on conditions, including not contacting either victim for 50 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe overall sentence was reduced to nine years because of mitigating factors. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe court imposed 6.5 years for the first victim, a consecutive 9 years for the second, and a concurrent 6.5 years for child abuse material, totalling 15.5 years reduced to 13.5 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceA post-release supervision order of 15 years was imposed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe girls were aged 14 and 10. (rte.ie)
  • otherCounsel said O'Sullivan was abandoned as a child to an orphanage in Russia and was adopted by an Irish couple. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe first victim told O'Sullivan at his sentencing hearing: 'I no longer want to be a victim, I want to be a survivor. You did not break my spirit. Your power is now gone.' (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Mar2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Snapchat sex offender who raped two young girls gets MORE jail time

    Court of Appeal upheld the State's undue leniency appeal and resentenced O'Sullivan from 9 years to 13.5 years, with a 15-year post-release supervision order and life on the sex offenders register.

    convicted, David O'Sullivan, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)David O'Sullivanvictim, 14, femalevictim, 10, female
  2. 12 Nov2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Snapchat predator jailed for raping two very young girls across Ireland

    Sentencing report for a single case. The article first gives the sentence as 11 and a half years with the last two and a half suspended, then says the overall sentence was reduced to nine years. Offences occurred in several places, including Co Galway.

    convicted, David O'Sullivan, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David O'Sullivanvictim, 14, femalevictim, 10, female
  3. 12 Nov2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man (22) jailed for nine years for rape of two girls he met on Snapchat

    Sentencing report for a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, with the sentence, mitigation, and the guilty pleas.

    convicted, David O'Sullivan, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)David O'Sullivanvictim, 14, femalevictim, 10, female
  4. 12 Nov2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man who raped girls he met on Snapchat jailed for 9 years

    Reports the sentencing: nine-year overall term after a reduction from headline sentences of ten and 15 years, with the final two and a half years suspended on conditions. Adds victim impact statements, the guilty pleas and the defendant's adoption background.

    convicted, David O'Sullivan, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David O'Sullivanvictim, femalevictim, female
  5. 12 Nov2025
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Cork man (22) jailed for nine years for rape of two young girls he met on Snapchat

    Sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Also covers the sentence for possession of child abuse material, the guilty pleas, the mitigating factors and the conditions attached to the suspended portion.

    convicted, David O'Sullivan, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)David O'Sullivanvictim, 14, femalevictim, 10, female